Separate gatherings in Silchar

Silchar, July 29: Id celebrations were held in due solemnity and much inter-community bonhomie in the Barak valley districts today.

For the first time, the central Id prayers in Karimganj were held in two separate rallies at the Idgah compound near the deputy commissionerís official residence.

The principal prayer was held for an hour on the Idgah lawns with Moulana Taibur Rahman Barbhuyan, the chief of the Naduata sect, conducting the hour-long namaz.

Another sect, the Ahele Sunnat, stayed away from this congregation and conducted a separate prayer in the same compound for an hour with Moulana Rashid Ahmed, an acknowledged Ahele clergyman, conducting the prayers.

A huge police force along with CRPF jawans under the command of superintendent of police, B.P. Rava, and the district additional deputy commissioner, Rupak Gupta, were present during both congregations for ensuring a peaceful Id.

The authorities and police forces heaved a sigh of relief after the two congregations dispersed peacefully after embracing each other in total sincerity.

The Karimganj district administration had earlier tried to bring the two sects into agreeing for a common prayer platform, but all their efforts failed. After the prayers, a senior police official remarked, ďAllís well that ends well.Ē

Reports from other places in the valley also noted that peace had reigned everywhere during the Id rallies, prayers and inter-community interactions.

A marked difference was noted when women, too, joined in the mass prayers, in a separate enclosure made for them, at a mosque in Kajidahar village, under Sonai block in Cachar district.